In a press briefing at Malacanang yesterday, December 17, 2010, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte announced the latest appointments made by President Noynoy Aquino.

These are for the chairpersons and vice chair positions of the different Regional Development Councils of the country.

For Region XII, the president appointed no less than General Santos City Mayor Darlene Magnolia Antonino-Custodio as Chairperson with Ramon Floresta as her vice.

Together with Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio, P-Noy also appointed on Dec. 2 Albay Gov. Joey Salceda as the Chairperson for Region 5’s RDC with Fr. Leo Casas as co-chairperson, Capiz Gov. Victor Tanco and Ma. Luisa Segovia, Region 6; Negros Oriental Gov. Agustin Percides and Arejo Mellsimo, Region 7; with Leyte Gov. Carlos Jericho Petilla and Tiburcio Morales, Region 8.

They were joined by Dipolog City’s Evelyn Uy and Enrico Montano, Region 9; Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz and Arsenio Sebastian III, Region 10; Mayor Sara Duterte and Vicente Lao, Region 11; and Kalinga Gov. Joel Baac and Dr. Virgilio Bautista, Cordillera Autonomous Region.

What basically is the Regional Development Council?

Here’s the rundown.. thanks to balita.ph:

The RDC is the highest policy-making body in the region and serves as the counterpart of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board at the subnational level.

It is the primary institution that coordinates and sets the direction of all economic and social development efforts in the region. It also serves as a forum where local efforts can be related and integrated with national development activities.

The RDC was created in answer to the need for a single regional planning body whose main concern is the overall socio-economic development of the region.

Regional development planning, according to NEDA, is necessary to address the uneven economic and social development in the country. This stems from the recognition that the economic and social gains achieved so far have been unevenly distributed such that much of the progress has been concentrated in a few regions.

Congratulations to the hard-working mayor of GenSan! With you at the helm of the Regional Development Council, there is no doubt that economic and social development in South Central Mindanao will now be a forgone conclusion.

Mabuhay po kayo!